A priest urged mourners - and particularly those who may be planning revenge - to turn away from violence at the funeral of a gang-feud victim on Thursday morning.

Keith Branigan was shot dead last week as he carried out work at his mobile home at the Ashling Holiday Park in Clogherhead, Co Louth.

Hundreds of heartbroken relatives and friends gathered at the Holy Family Church in Drogheda to say farewell to the 29 year-old who was murdered on August 27.

The Drogheda native, who was from Ballsgrove, was spayed with bullets from a machine gun and hit five times as he died at the scene.

The victim, who had married in December, was described yesterday (Thurs) by chief celebrant Fr Phil Gaffney as a man “who loved his life and his family”.

And the local priest prayed and pleaded for “peace and an end to the violence and absolute heartbreak, horror, sorrow and grief” that Keith’s loved ones have suffered.

Gardai believe at least two killers were in the hit team who carried out the murder and up to three cars were involved in the assassination and getaway.

There was high security at the funeral Mass and a Garda helicopter flew overhead, while the Armed Response Unit were parked across from the church.

05/09/'19 Gardai look on at the cemetery pictured this morning at the funeral of Keith Branigan, who was shot dead in Clogherhead last week..The funeral took place at the Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, Drogheda with burial in Calvary Cemetery....Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

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The brutal killing of the local man was the first Drogheda feud murder, although there has been more than 70 directly-related incidents since last summer.

Fr Gaffney, who described the murder as ‘callous’ said: “The music has stopped in our town not just because the Fleadh has finished, but because some people want to continue a feud that has blighted our town now for the last 15 month.

“Last Tuesday week as schools were preparing to to open for a new term someone was planning to end the life of a young man Keith Branigan.

“So our sorrow can only be eased by men and women, by turning away from violence and observing the rule of law, particularly for those who could be planning revenge at this time.

“In three weeks time we will celebrate 40 years since Pope John Paul [II] stood just outside this town and asked the people of Ireland to turn away from violence and we find an echo of that in our Mass today.

“When will it stop? Who can make it stop? Only the men and women of Drogheda who want a better future for their children.”

The chief mourners at the funeral were Keith’s widow Rachel, his mother Iris and his sisters Sarah Jane and Jessica, nephews Krue and Joe and ‘nana’ Rose.

Songs performed during the poignant service included tearjerkers the Donna Taggart hit ‘Jealous Of The Angels’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ and the Ed Sheehan song ‘Perfect’.

05/09/'19 The remains arrive at the cemetery pictured this morning at the funeral of Keith Branigan, who was shot dead in Clogherhead last week..The funeral took place at the Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, Drogheda with burial in Calvary Cemetery....Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

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Fr Gaffney continued: “All families here this morning, including Keith’s family, they want the best of healthcare, they always strove for the best of education, the best of friends, the best of opportunities for their families and we want that to continue.

“During the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland I remember a school principal, who was a teacher in a town close to the border telling in an interview how he asked the children in the classroom to paint a picture of their house at home it always included a helicopter.

“I hope that the children of this generation in Drogheda who are resuming going back to school these days will not in the future be placing a helicopter among the picture of their own homes in Drogheda.

A guard of honour was performed by some members of St Nicholas GAA club as the hearse left the grounds and made its way to the Calvary Cemetery for burial.